fourth sunday of EASTER (B)
READINGS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (B)
First Reading – (Acts 4: 8-12) – Peter tells the people that the crippled man had been cured, through the power of the risen Jesus, and not through any power of Peter’s. Jesus is the only one who can save us.
Responsorial Psalm – The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
Second Reading – (1 John 3: 1-2) – Through his love God has made us his children. In the next life he will do even greater things for us. Then we shall see him as he is.
Gospel Reading – (John 10:11-18) – Jesus compares his role to that of a good shepherd who, unlike the hireling, is ready to give his life for his sheep.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, God the Father has given us his Son Jesus as our Good Shepherd. With faith and confidence let us now turn to God our Father and pray, through Jesus, for our own needs and those of the Church and the world.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the leaders of the Church: that they may be sustained by the Holy Spirit in their ministry of service. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for people in all troubled parts of our world, especially in the Middle East: that God may bring peace, reconciliation and healing to them. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our young parishioners who are going to receive Jesus in Holy Communion next weekend: that they may always be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and be witnesses of Christ’s love. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life: that men and women may be inspired to dedicate their lives to the work of service in the Church and may respond generously to God’s call. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all the sick of our families and our parish, those in hospital, in hospice or nursing home and those for whom we are asked to pray: that God may give them strength and fortitude, and bless those who care for them. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the souls of all those whose anniversaries, months mind and birthday remembrances we are asked to recall, as well as those who have recently died: that they may receive the reward of their faith and enjoy the happiness of heaven. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
CONCLUSION: God our Father, we give thanks to you for the gift of your Son Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Saviour. Listen to your people who lift their hearts in the hope of receiving your blessing. We make this prayer and all our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK
SICK – John Clelland, Rose Gallagher, John Hegarty, Robert Kielty, Thérèse McKeand, Mary McCafferty, Edward McCafferty, Stuart Mason, Martin McGuire, David O’Hare, Ann & James Hannaway & Maureen Dolan.
I also ask your prayers for the sick and housebound
– those at home in our parish community, those in hospital,
and those in local nursing and care homes in Cambuslang, Halfway
& Blantyre and elsewhere. Our prayers for them
not only help in their suffering and pain but also reassure them
that they are not forgotten by our community of faith.
Our prayers help relieve their feelings of isolation and loneliness.
To be remembered before the Altar of God
brings them comfort and consolation.
Almighty and Eternal God, you are the everlasting health
of those who believe in you.
Hear us for your sick servants
for whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy,
that being restored to bodily health,
they may give thanks to you in your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.
Our Lady, Help of the Sick, pray for them.
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RECENTLY DEAD – Fr. Martin Chambers (Bishop-Elect of Dunkeld), Stephen Peter Revill ((Body Reception, Sunday 21st April 2024 at 6pm; Requiem Mass, Monday 22nd April 2024 at 10am), Mary Philomena Dodds (Requiem Mass, Wednesday 24th April 2024 at 10am), Andrew Harkin (Requiem Mass, Friday 3rd May 2024 at 10am) & Catherine Grant.
ANNIVERSARIES – Joseph McLaughlin, Marjorie Callaghan & Andrew Hardie.
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES – APRIL
Rev. John O’Callaghan 15/04/1955
Rev. Edward Lafferty 05/04/1958
Rev. Charles Doherty 23/04/1982
Rev. James Flynn 11/04/1985
Very Rev. Hugh Cahill 11/04/1990
Rev. Lawrence Kenny 13/04/1992
Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Conroy 20/04/1994
Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Gillen 16/04/1995
Very Rev. Christopher Condon 08/04/1996
Very Rev. Anthony McGurk 29/04/1997
Rev. Bernard Mahoney 03/04/1998
Rev. Denis Power 28/04/1999
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Alex Devaney 18/04/2004
Rev. Michael Gallagher 23/04/2007
Very Rev. Patrick Moss 18/04/2014
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Jack Burns 11/04/2017
Rev. Richard J. Rodgers 10/04/2020
Canon Michael Walsh 28/04/2022
Rev Damien Gilhooley 10/04/2023
Rev George Donaldson 29/04/2023
May the Lord who chose them to serve him as priests,
number them among his chosen in heaven.
Requiescant in Pace.
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GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. On this annual worldwide event, the Church around the world invites us to pray for those we might know whom God may be calling to a priestly or religious vocation and would benefit from our prayers.
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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
This Sunday (21st April 2024) we celebrate in our parish the World Day of Prayer for Communications and the annual collection will be taken up at all Masses for the next two weekends (20th/21st April 2024 & 27th/28rthApril 2024) beginning next weekend to help support the Church’s efforts to spread the Word of God by every modern means of Communications.
The theme for this year's World Day of Social Communications, chosen by Pope Francis, is 'Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication'. In his message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis urges humanity to cultivate wisdom of the heart in the age of artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence is “radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society,” says the Pope in his Communications Day message, adding that “these changes affect everyone.” So, the Pope asks, “how can we remain fully human and guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose?”
In answering this question, the Holy Father notes that “at this time in history, which risks becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, our reflections must begin with the human heart. Only by adopting a spiritual way of viewing reality, only by recovering a wisdom of the heart, can we confront and interpret the newness of our time and rediscover the path to a fully human communication. He recalls that, in the Bible, the heart is seen as the place of freedom and decision-making, "symbolising integrity and unity, while also engaging our emotions, desires, and dreams."
In a nutshell, in his message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis urges humanity to cultivate wisdom of the heart in the age of artificial intelligence.
A box intended to help support the work of the Catholic Communications will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weeks beginning this weekend. Thank you very much in anticipation for your kind generosity in supporting this vital work.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday 27th April 2024 (St. Charles’ Primary School) at 9.30am Mass and at 11.30am Mass (St. Cadoc’s Primary School) in St. Cadoc’s Church. The prayers of parishioners are requested for these young people and for their families that their first meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist may lead on to a life in his loyal service. Parents, guardians & carers of candidates for First Communion are reminded of the importance of attending the Sunday Mass faithfully each week.
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BENE MERENTI MEDALS PRESENTATION
On Sunday 9th June 2024, Bishop Joseph Toal, who will be the main celebrant at 9.30am Mass (Mass brought forward by half hour to give sufficient time for the celebration), will be presenting the Bene Merenti Medal to Nancy Welsh, Anne Moran, Irene Savage, Barbara Morris, John Joseph Clark and Joe McHenry towards the end of Mass.
The Bene Merenti Medal is a well-deserved honour given to people who voluntary give their time in the service of the Catholic Church. Nancy Welsh, Anne Moran, Irene Savage, Barbara Morris, John Joseph Clark and Joe McHenry deserve to be honoured by the award as they have supported the Church for most of their lives, not only at Parish level but also at Diocesan level and the Universal Church. We offer our sincere congratulations to them as we acknowledge their many dedicated years of service to the parish of St. Cadoc’s and to the Church. We implore God’s blessings upon them and their families. Please put the date in your diary and join us in for Mass that day as a mark of gratitude to them on behalf of St. Cadoc’s Parish community.
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WELLSPRING: A COMMON VISION,
RENEWED MISSION AND PARISH RENEWAL
Will you join us? – is the last line of the Wellspring Vision. The success of Wellspring will depend on the generous response of each one of us and our prayer that God will bless our efforts.
Every parish will respond in a different way, guided by the Spirit, to promote the vision of Church that is inclusive and outward looking, renewing our missions to foster deeper faith and witness and renewing our parishes as thriving communities.
The Parish needs your help to respond. What can you contribute? Can you help develop this vision of Church? The Wellspring Vision for the Diocese invites you to ‘Imagine a church…’ you are invited make that vision a reality.
The Wellspring Project Meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday 16th April, has now been re-scheduled for Monday 3rd June 2024 at 6pm in St. Cadoc’s Church, Halfway. Speaker at the meeting will be Mr. Adrian Harkin, the co-ordinator of the Wellspring Project. Adrian is also involved in the Finance and Fabric and Planning Committees of the Diocese of Motherwell.
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DAILY MASS
Please note the changes in our weekday Masses. There will a Mass at 10am from Monday to Friday of next week. Then, from Tuesday 6th May 2024 to Friday 24th May 2024, a Mass at 10am from Tuesday to Friday. No Daily Mass on Monday and Saturday mornings during this period.
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VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
OR PERMENANT DIACONATE
Any man who is considering a vocation to the Priesthood or the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Motherwell should make himself known in the first instance to his Parish Priest. His contact details will then be forwarded to the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Charles O’Farrell, for those considering Priesthood, or to Deacon Bill McMillan, for those considering the Diaconate.
If anyone wishes to receive information or encouragement about discerning their vocation, contact can be made with Fr O’Farrell at frofarrell@rcdom.org.uk, or Deacon McMillan at deaconmcmillan@rcdom.org.uk.
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SCIAF LENTEN ALMS BOXES
Thanks to all who have returned their SCIAF wee boxes. The total contributed in this way to SCIAF amounted to £550.26 so far. If you have not returned the SCIAF box, can I encourage you to please return it to the sacristy/house as soon as possible, or you may send them directly to the SCIAF.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
We will resume the Children’s Liturgy sessions on Sunday 5th May 2024 at 10am Mass after their Easter break and we finish the Liturgy for summer on Sunday 2nd June 2024 with a tea party after 10am Mass in the church house..
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GIFT-AID
Thank you to all those who have collected their new gift-aid envelopes for the 2024 - 2025 tax year, which commenced last Sunday (7th April 2024). May I ask those who haven’t done so to collect them from the stall please.
We are still looking for new members. If you pay tax on income/pension the church can claim back the tax through the Gift-Aid Scheme. I would encourage those who may be eligible to give consideration to increasing the value of their normal weekly offerings by joining this worthwhile scheme. Gift Aid forms are available in the church porch/sacristy and when completed can be returned to Jim Cunningham, our parish gift-aid organiser, or Father Cirilo. We are grateful to Jim Cunningham, our Gift-Aid organiser, for giving his time to deal with Gift-Aid envelopes.
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parking in the streets
surrounding the church
Unfortunately, parishioners of St. Cadocs’ who drive to church are in a situation where there is no private parking within the church grounds. The streets surrounding the church therefore invariably become congested with parked cars especially at weekend Mass times. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of parking in relation to the church, I would ask those drivers attending services to consider the needs of local residents to have unimpeded access to their properties when choosing where to responsibly park. You can also use our car park which is situated behind the church. It can accommodate 6 cars.
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right to life uk: praying for the unborn
& women facing crisis pregnancies
April 21st 2024 – “As we continue to celebrate our Lord’s triumph over death, let us pray for all those who are close to death, especially those who are alone, that they would always be treated with respect and have their human dignity upheld.”
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an act of spiritual communion
(St. Alphonsus Liguori)
(This is a simple and loving act of Spiritual Communion we are called to make in these times,
while we are unable to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there
and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
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prayer to st. michael
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness
and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts,
by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan, and all the evil spirits
who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Holy mary, mother of god,
st. Joseph,
st. Michael and holy angels,
ST. CADOC,
Pray for us